Fuel-tank attachment for automobiles



Jan. 1, 1924 1,479,622

S. l. GATES, JR., ET AL FUEL TANK ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES,

Filed July 10 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 l I l I o 4' I l 6 I I: a '1 l l l l l I l I I 1 STEPHEN AND CHARLEs H. (JLEVE-S,

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S. l. DATES, JR, ET AL FUEL TANK ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed July 10, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DATES, IR. CHARLES H. emu/a STEPHEN L gwuenhu I STEPHEN I. DATES, (TIL, AND CHARLES H. CHEVES, 035 HOUSTON, TEXAS.

FUEL-TANK ATTACHMENT FOB AUTSMQBILES.

Application filed July 10,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, STEPHEN I. GATES, Jr., and CHARLES H. CHEvns, citizens of the United States, residing at Houston, Harris Qounty, Texas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fuel-TankAttachments for Automobiles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to fuel tanks for automobiles and contemplates the provision of an attachment whereby the fuel may be poured into the tank from the side of the car without any inconvenience to the driver.

In the usual construction of Ford automobiles it is necessary for the driver to get out of the car and remove the cushions from the seat before the tank can be reached for filling. This is a serious inconvenience.

It is an object of our invention to provide means whereby fuel may be poured into the fuel tank without getting out of the car.

Another object is to provide a means of ascertaining the height of fuel in the tank and to determine when the tank is full.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be more clearly described in the specification which follows:

Referring 'to the drawings herewith wherein like numerals of reference are applied to like parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fuel tank to which our invention has been applied. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 4: is a detailed section somewhat enlarged showing the attachment of the filling pipe to the tank, said section being taken on the line 4r4: of Fig. 2; Fig. I is alongitudinal. section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings the fuel tank 1 is shown as being approximately cylindrical and of such length as to fit beneath the seat 2 of the automobile. necessary to remove the seat and to then fill I the tank throu h an o enin in the u) or end thereof toward the right hand of the driver. In order to make it possible to fill this tank without removing the seat I have provided an attachment which may be placed on any common make of Ford car without material change in the car. To do this I have placed within the threaded open- In ordinary practice it is 1922. Serial No. 573,888.

ing 3' shown particularly in Fig. 4: a short threaded nipple 4. This nipple is threaded on its outer face to fit within the opening and its upper end is threaded internally at 5 to receive a plug or cap 6 to be screwed therein. At one side thereof the nipple t is slotted at 7 to receive a filling pipe 8 and to provide a passage from the pipe through the nipple to the opening in the tank. For this purpose also the cap 6 is slotted at 9 at a pointsvhich when the cap is screwed in place will register with the opening 7 in the v nipple.

The filling pipe 8 has one end thereof flattened and provided with a. ring portion 10 adapted to fit about the threaded upper end of the nipple 4. On the side ofthe nipple adjacent the slot- 7 the opening 11 in the pipe 8 will thus connect with the openings 7 and 9 in the nipple and cap so as to provide free communication from the pipe to the said nipple and hence with the tank.

The filling pipe 8 extends from the opening in the tank directly forward to a point immediately adjacent the rear face of the housing 12 below the seat and is then bent at approximately right angles to run the length of the pipe to a point adjacent the side 13 of the car at the left hand of the driver. It is there bent outwardly and passes through an opening in the housing 12 and is then bent directly upwards to a point approximately even with the upper side of the car. It is there provided with a cap 14 which acts as a closure for the pipe. Thus the fuel can be turned into the upper end of this pipe when the cap is removed and will pass through the pipe and the openings 7 and 8 into the tank in an obvious manner.

In order that a vent may be allowed for the air in the tank while the same is being filled with fuel we contemplate providing a small tube 15 to allow the escape of the air during the filling operation. This tube is placed within the larger filling tube 8 and extends the full length thereof, and, as shown in Fig. 4 is bent downwardly through the slot 7 into the nipple 4 and is recurved at '16 into the upper end of the tank. At its opposite end, as shown particularly in F 3, it is extended upwardly and its end is bent outward through the side wall of the tube 8 adjacent the upper end. It is then out of the way of the fuel when it is turned into the tank, but will allow the, escape of air through the upper part of the tank. It will also allow the entrance of air during the period that the tank is being emptied of fuel in the operation of the car.

In order to provide an indicator whereby the height of fuel in the tank may be ascertained, we have used a glass gage composed of a length of glass tubing 17 set in front of the seat of the car and to one side thereof directly in front of the upturned end of the pipe 8. This glass tube is provided with a cap 18 at its upper end and is supported adjacent the pipe 8 by means of a small bracket 19. At its lower end it is set within a joint 20 connecting the same with a length of small pipe or tubing 21. The glass gage is protected against breakage by two rods, 22, placed on the outer side as shown particularly in Fig. 6, in such position as to prevent injury to the gage. The gage is connected with the lower part of the tank by means of the pipe 21 previously mentioned, which extends downwardly through the floor of the car and then 'rearwardly and inwardly to connect with a T 23, which is in turn connected with the valve controlled outlet 24 usually employed upon a Ford car. The T 23 is also connected with feed pipe 25 leading to the carburetor in the usual manner. It will thus be seen that the fuel in the tank will be shown at its proper level within the gage 17, and an indicator of great accuracy will thus be obtained.

The advantages of this type of construction will be obvious to one skilled in the art. The height of the fuel in the tank may be ascertained at any time by consulting the gage and when it is found necessary the tank may be refilled by simply removing the cap 14; at the upper end of the filling tube and fuel may be turned through said pipe into the tank. The gage will at all times indicate the amount of fuel in the tank and when the same is filled the fact will be indicated on the gage. The small tube 15 will allow vent for the air at all times.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described,

an automobile fuel tank having a filling opening therein, a filling pipe having its end flattened and provided with an opening corresponding to said filling opening, a cap adapted to screw in said openings and secure said pipe to said tank, said'cap having a lateral slot registering with said pipe whereby liquid fuel may enter said tank through said pipe and slot while said cap is in place, and an upturned outer end on said pipe.

2. In a device of the character described, an automobile seat, a fuel tank thereunder having a filling opening on its upper side, a cap closing said opening a pipe detachably connected to said opening by said cap, said pipe extending through. the forward side of saidseat at one end thereof, an upwardly extending end on said pipe and a closure for said end. I

3. In a device of the character described, a fuel tank having a filling opening therein, a nipple in said opening, a filling pipe detachably connected with said opening, a cap on said nipple, said cap and nipple having slots registering with said pipe, said pipe extending to a point adjacent one end of W said tank and an upturned end onsaid pipe whereby said tank may be readily filled therethrough. j

i. In a device of the character described, an automobile fuel tank beneath the seat of the automobile, said tank having a filling opening therein, a filling pipe having one end adjacent the drivers position at one side of the car, and the other end detachably connected with said filling opening, means to close said opening and secure said pipe therein, and a vent for said tank connected through said opening.

5. In an automobile, a fuel tank having a filling opening, a filling pipe detachably connected therewith at one end and having a receiving opening at its other end at one side of the car, and a vent pipe inside said filling pipe and connected with said tank at said opening and thereby adapted to allow escape of air from said tank during the filling operation.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto atfix our signatures, this the 6th day of July,

STEPHEN I. GATES, JR. CHARLES H. CHEVES. 

